WVU cagers add transfer from Arkansas

Forward Osabuohien played in 54 contests for Razorbacks

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins has announced that Arkansas transfer Gabe Osabuohien has joined the Mountaineer men’s basketball team.

A 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward, Osabuohien attended Arkansas the last two seasons, where he played in 54 games. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Last year as a sophomore, the Toronto, Ontario, native started the final eight games for the Razorbacks, compiling 42 deflections, 32 rebounds, 16 assists and 12 steals during that stretch.

Against Ole Miss, Osabuohien had four assists, three steals (two in the final 23 seconds) and six deflections in the Arkansas victory.

Osabuohien tied a career high with eight rebounds at Providence. He had six deflections in each of Arkansas’ NIT games and posted a season-best seven deflections at Vanderbilt. For the season, he finished with 105 deflections and was second on the team with 24 charges taken.

Last season, he posted career highs of 13 points against Ole Miss, six assists against LSU, three blocks against Indiana and three steals against Ole Miss. For the season, Osabuohien had 106 points, 108 rebounds, 46 assists, 31 steals and 16 blocks.

A member of the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll, Osabuohien played in 20 games as a freshman and tied for the team lead in charges taken with eight.

Osabuohien played his prep career at Little Rock’s Southwest Christian Academy, where he was ranked as the No. 5 player in the state of Arkansas by 247Sports.com.

He averaged 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists as a senior for a team that went 31-2 and advanced to the NACA National Championships.

“Gabe’s a player who can come in and can make an immediate impact to our team defensively,” Huggins said.

“He’s accustomed to a fast style of play pressing and running from his days at Arkansas. His athleticism and toughness will be an addition to the frontline as well as being a capable shooter to help spread the defense.”